Fortress Etihad

[Original Dub]

Pretty impressive.

Odd thread.

[Cocacolajojo]

Annyways....... what do people think of our homeform over the last year or so and why we aren't as solid as we used to be?

We're definitely not as mentally strong at home as we were the last two years of Mancini's reign or the first year of Pellegrini. It's a shame we lost that and it's likely related to the strange season wr had last season when at times, it was like there was noone running the team.

[Nigels Tackle]

Annyways....... what do people think of our homeform over the last year or so and why we aren't as solid as we used to be?

We're definitely not as mentally strong at home as we were the last two years of Mancini's reign or the first year of Pellegrini. It's a shame we lost that and it's likely related to the strange season wr had last season when at times, it was like there was noone running the team.

we have no leaders in the team
just a bunch of guys 'doing their job'

[Cocacolajojo]

Annyways....... what do people think of our homeform over the last year or so and why we aren't as solid as we used to be?

We're definitely not as mentally strong at home as we were the last two years of Mancini's reign or the first year of Pellegrini. It's a shame we lost that and it's likely related to the strange season wr had last season when at times, it was like there was noone running the team.

we have no leaders in the team
just a bunch of guys 'doing their job'

The same guys came to the Etihad determined to win from the start of the game and often intimated teams of the pitch. I remember one game against Stoke in our title winning season, it felt like Pulis' men never left their own penalty box. I see where you're coming from but I don't agree that it's the explanation. I'd agree that it probably expains Yaya's behaviour but I don't think the rest are just workers. If anything, I think the team is lacking in team spirit or whatever you call it. It will take time for Pep to get that sort of focus and bond going again.

[Niall Quinns Discopants]

Annyways....... what do people think of our homeform over the last year or so and why we aren't as solid as we used to be?

We're definitely not as mentally strong at home as we were the last two years of Mancini's reign or the first year of Pellegrini. It's a shame we lost that and it's likely related to the strange season wr had last season when at times, it was like there was noone running the team.

First sensible post.
That's what I've been thinking. Vinnie is always injured, Hart is goner and Yaya is done. All our on and off the pitch leaders are not as efective as they used to be. We need one of themyounger guys to step up and show true leadership.

[Niall Quinns Discopants]

Annyways....... what do people think of our homeform over the last year or so and why we aren't as solid as we used to be?

We're definitely not as mentally strong at home as we were the last two years of Mancini's reign or the first year of Pellegrini. It's a shame we lost that and it's likely related to the strange season wr had last season when at times, it was like there was noone running the team.

we have no leaders in the team
just a bunch of guys 'doing their job'

The same guys came to the Etihad determined to win from the start of the game and often intimated teams of the pitch. I remember one game against Stoke in our title winning season, it felt like Pulis' men never left their own penalty box. I see where you're coming from but I don't agree that it's the explanation. I'd agree that it probably expains Yaya's behaviour but I don't think the rest are just workers. If anything, I think the team is lacking in team spirit or whatever you call it. It will take time for Pep to get that sort of focus and bond going again.

You saw that with almost every team outside of top 4. The6 came to Etihad with only aim being to lose for just few goals. I haven't seen much of that in about year or so.

[nottsblue]

All champions from any league or any time have good home records. The very best teams win games before the opposition have even got off the coach. We had that in Pellegrini's first season where we only dropped points once, Sunderland if I recall. I think a lot of it was down to the sheer number of goals we scored and not necessarily the way we played or set up to play. Teams from the lower echelons of the table would look at the fixture and be genuinely concerned they could get a savage beating which could impact the next few games for themselves and not least their goal difference. Even if a side scored two, we would get four or five. Of course teams parked the bus but we had the attacking prowess to unlock the door and then smash it down.

Getting back to today, we have arguably a more rounded side with better quality players, think KDB and Sterling but we somehow lack the potency of a couple of years ago. I mean, we scored over 100 PL goals and I think we will be twenty or so short of that this campaign. That equals a goal per home goal game and psychologically the difference between a Watford or a WBA or a West Ham or an Everton or a Hull coming to avoid a mauling or actually thinking if luck is on their side they could fluke a result.

In short, we need to be more ruthless at home more often and get the early season swagger back.

[freshie]

Annyways....... what do people think of our homeform over the last year or so and why we aren't as solid as we used to be?

We're definitely not as mentally strong at home as we were the last two years of Mancini's reign or the first year of Pellegrini. It's a shame we lost that and it's likely related to the strange season wr had last season when at times, it was like there was noone running the team.

we have no leaders in the team
just a bunch of guys 'doing their job'

Give this man some fucking Prozac!

[Nick]

if only mancini hadn't tried to take the piss and try a back 3 with maicaon ay...

[Original Dub]

Annyways....... what do people think of our homeform over the last year or so and why we aren't as solid as we used to be?

We're definitely not as mentally strong at home as we were the last two years of Mancini's reign or the first year of Pellegrini. It's a shame we lost that and it's likely related to the strange season wr had last season when at times, it was like there was noone running the team.

we have no leaders in the team
just a bunch of guys 'doing their job'

Give this man some fucking Prozac!

It's not him, don't you know everything has fallen apart completely and we're doomed?

Anyone who disagrees must be deluded.

[Nige]

Having a few shots from more than 6 yards out would be my view. The crowd love a shot and it springs doubt into the opposition. We seem to try to fight as a team and crowd for the last few minutes when we are chasing 3 points. Eg Everton. Doing this for the first few minutes would bring back some solidity.

[freshie]

Annyways....... what do people think of our homeform over the last year or so and why we aren't as solid as we used to be?

We're definitely not as mentally strong at home as we were the last two years of Mancini's reign or the first year of Pellegrini. It's a shame we lost that and it's likely related to the strange season wr had last season when at times, it was like there was noone running the team.

we have no leaders in the team
just a bunch of guys 'doing their job'

Give this man some fucking Prozac!

It's not him, don't you know everything has fallen apart completely and we're doomed?

Anyone who disagrees must be deluded.

It's getting so tedious. Can't work out if he's on a wind up or in need of professional help. Either way it's very sad

[Nigels Tackle]

yeah, really sad to want the players to wear the shirt with pride and passion for 90 minutes in every game...
what a boring cunt i am.

[Niall Quinns Discopants]

yeah, really sad to want the players to wear the shirt with pride and passion for 90 minutes in every game...
what a boring cunt i am.

Don't mind.
you make a pretty good points. Personally I think up and down is to be expected this early of Pep era but also we will have to work towards being more consistent.

[Cocacolajojo]

yeah, really sad to want the players to wear the shirt with pride and passion for 90 minutes in every game...
what a boring cunt i am.

Go to the match thread for the Real Madrid semi final second leg and other threads created after we were beaten and you should find posts from a few hypocritical wankers.

[Original Dub]

yeah, really sad to want the players to wear the shirt with pride and passion for 90 minutes in every game...
what a boring cunt i am.

Pride and passion hasn't been our biggest issue by a long way this season.

I don't know what matches you were watching but so far, only spurs and first half against Southampton could that be said.

Yet you mention it every week.

Can you not see that individual errors have been our undoing when results didn't go our way?

Seriously?

[Nigels Tackle]

yeah, really sad to want the players to wear the shirt with pride and passion for 90 minutes in every game...
what a boring cunt i am.

Pride and passion hasn't been our biggest issue by a long way this season.

I don't know what matches you were watching but so far, only spurs and first half against Southampton could that be said.

Yet you mention it every week.

Can you not see that individual errors have been our undoing when results didn't go our way?

Seriously?

yes. seriously.
people are raving that kun covered 10km+ y'day vs an average ~8km. that's 25 (twentyfuckingfive!!!) % more than usual.
what does that tell you od?

[Foreverinbluedreams]

yeah, really sad to want the players to wear the shirt with pride and passion for 90 minutes in every game...
what a boring cunt i am.

Pride and passion hasn't been our biggest issue by a long way this season.

I don't know what matches you were watching but so far, only spurs and first half against Southampton could that be said.

Yet you mention it every week.

Can you not see that individual errors have been our undoing when results didn't go our way?

Seriously?

yes. seriously.
people are raving that kun covered 10km+ y'day vs an average ~8km. that's 25 (twentyfuckingfive!!!) % more than usual.
what does that tell you od?

That was last season's average. It tells me exactly what I suspected, that our players are working a lot harder this season than last.

[Nigels Tackle]

yeah, really sad to want the players to wear the shirt with pride and passion for 90 minutes in every game...
what a boring cunt i am.

Pride and passion hasn't been our biggest issue by a long way this season.

I don't know what matches you were watching but so far, only spurs and first half against Southampton could that be said.

Yet you mention it every week.

Can you not see that individual errors have been our undoing when results didn't go our way?

Seriously?

yes. seriously.
people are raving that kun covered 10km+ y'day vs an average ~8km. that's 25 (twentyfuckingfive!!!) % more than usual.
what does that tell you od?

That was last season's average. It tells me exactly what I suspected, that our players are working a lot harder this season than last.

how many times have you seen kun play like he did on saturday ?! he obviously has it in him...

[Niall Quinns Discopants]

yeah, really sad to want the players to wear the shirt with pride and passion for 90 minutes in every game...
what a boring cunt i am.

Pride and passion hasn't been our biggest issue by a long way this season.

I don't know what matches you were watching but so far, only spurs and first half against Southampton could that be said.

Yet you mention it every week.

Can you not see that individual errors have been our undoing when results didn't go our way?

Seriously?

viewtopic.php?f=119&t=52067

That is such a nonsensical post even by your standards. In above topic you say that workrate and application, hallmarks of pride and passion, has been missing yet here you say that there has been practically no lack of effort.

Now I personally don't think we lack effort or even pride and passion. Players are just little bit confused with Pep's fairly sophisticated system in certain situations. They will get used to it eventually. I think Pep should have hold on to and/or play some of the old leaders more to get people around more comfortable and THEN drop them to bench and/or get rid. But he obviously wants to drill it from day one and I'm certainly going to give him benefit of doubt for couple of seasons. I think at that stage with some of the youngsters maturing we will be all-conquering side.